THE PERFECT FRIAR
The Perfect Friar in reference to Saint Francis' description of the ideal friar is more than anything else, an announcement by Saint Francis that life in fraternity requires all friars to be participate because not one friar will possess all the qualities of a perfect friar, but individually each friar holds one or more of these perfect qualities, that only when brought together in fraternal life will comprise the perfect friar.
For Secular Franciscans, fundamental to fraternal life is every members’ presence at each scheduled meeting. Not only is life in fraternity strengthened by everyone's presence, but it also completes the perfect friar. If we are truly to be God’s instruments of peace, one of the things we must strive to do is make ourselves available to God and His plan for us by regularly attending fraternity meetings.
Each member of the fraternity has been given gifts that God intends to use not only on an individual level, but together with other fraternity members. With everyones’ presence at fraternity meetings, the “Perfect Friar” is present. St. Francis having in a certain way transformed the brothers into saints by the ardor of his love and the fervent zeal which he had for their perfection, often used to ponder about the qualities and virtues which should abound in a good Lesser Brother. Of a perfect brother, Saint Francis used to say:
"A good Friar Minor should imitate the lives and possess the merits of these holy friars: the perfect faith and love of poverty of Brother Bernard; the simplicity and purity of Brother Leo, who was a man of most holy purity; the courtesy of Brother Angelo, who was the first nobleman to enter the Order, and was endowed with all courtesy and kindness; the gracious look and natural good sense of Brother Masseo, together with his noble and devout eloquence; the mind upraised to God, possessed in its highest perfection by Brother Giles; the virtuous and constant prayer of Brother Rufino, who prayed without ceasing, and whose mind was ever fixed on God, whether sleeping or working; the patience of Brother Juniper, who attained the state of perfect patience because he kept the truth of his low estate constantly in mind whose supreme desire was to follow Christ on the way of the Cross; the bodily and spiritual courage of Brother John of Lauds, who in his time had been physically stronger than all men; the charity of Brother Roger, whose whole life and conversation was inspired by fervent charity; the caution of Brother Lucidus, who was unwilling to remain in any place longer than a month, for when he began to like a place, he would at once leave it, saying, ‘Our home is not here, but in heaven."
On the flip side, by not attending meetings we do not avail ourselves to part of God's plan for us. Fraternity meetings are diminished accordingly as the opportunity for the Holy Spirit to work through us is eliminated by our absence. This negatively affects fraternal life and those individuals who do not attend the meetings. Absent individuals do not benefit from all that God has planned for each meeting and their own Franciscan journey may be weakened. This is especially so if the absence is frequent and continuous.
Life in fraternity is one lived with others who are like minded and called by God. In fraternity, Franciscans do what Christ meant for them to do and to share the fruits he has blessed each individual with, each in his or her own way. Together all journey to a greater following of Christ making an effective and positive difference in our homes, with those we meet and communicate with, in our community, country and the world.